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There have always been interchanges, one country drawing inspiration from another, one culture influencing others. Architecture, art, music, royal dynasties, the Middle Ages, the Age of Enlightenment, two World Wars, democracy, peace, equality, and social welfare. Great ideas were born in Europe. Big catastrophes took place. If you try to write about Europe you can never write about all that is important. Therefore, this issue can only crack the surface.

Politicians and policymakers are fond of suggesting that the present day welfare crisis might be “solved” by placing more responsibility on the shoulders of private actors, notably voluntary associations and families. Such claims are based on the widely shared but mistaken idea that state welfare has diminished the role of social action, as well as families’ self-reliance, and that therefore both must be reinvigorated.

Ireland is obviously and proudly very Irish place. But it is also a very European place. That sense of Ireland wanting to be a part of the European family is very strong. You could see that again in the recent European elections. There is very steady and strong support for Europe, and it has become even stronger.

Until we can resolve and learn how to deal with the different narratives and acknowledge that different people and different groups had different experiences and there is hurt and blame on all sides; until we can do that I don’t know if we can ever really move on.